Dario Fo loses contest to run for Milan mayoralty

The Nobel prize-winning playwright Dario Fo has lost an election to determine the centre-left opposition's candidate for mayor of Milan.

The city's former police chief Bruno Ferrante won 67.5 % of the vote held on Sunday, followed by Mr Fo with 23.4%.

The 79-year-old author of plays such as Accidental Death of an Anarchist, who has never held public office but was backed by the Communist and Green parties, paid a grudging tribute to his rival, saying: "He's someone who says the same things as I do, only the day after." The mayoral election will be held in May.